Cigar Cutter

ABSTRACT

A cigar cutter having both a v-shaped cutting blade and a straight cutting blade on opposing sides of a housing having two central apertures for selective placement of the cap of a cigar. A spring biased locking mechanism keeps the blades in a closed position so that the apertures are closed to prevent accidental cutting. The blades are spring biased into an open position and it is against this spring bias that the user must press one end of the housing to effect the cutting effect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for cutting the ends of rolled cigars so that the user can more easily enjoy and draw on the cigar, when lit for consumption. Cigars are ground particles of tobacco or leaves of tobacco which are then rolled into a small cylinder, generally about three to ten inches in length and one-quarter of an inch to one inch in diameter. Of course, other dimensions may be used and still be considered rolled tobacco and cigars, all depending upon the preference of the manufacturer and the consumer. Often, the cigars are sold such that one tip is pointed and closed and the other tip is flat, the latter usually cut by a knife across the longitudinal axis of the cigar. The user, upon desiring a smoke of the cigar, will usually take the cigar from the wrapper or box and need to cut the closed end before lighting the already cut end. Once the first cut end is lit with a match, lighter or flame, the user/smoker will draw upon the second cut end. It is highly customary for the user, when ready to smoke a cigar, to cut the closed end by biting it, by using a knife, and/or a cigar cutter. Many cigar cutters exist which allow the closed or pointed tip to be cut across the longitudinal axis of the cigar. Such cigar cutters are pocket sized and operate in a guillotine manner, allowing the user to place the end(s) of the cigar into an opening and then slicing the tip to create a clean cut across the cigar to create a fresh end surface. Other cigar cutters exist which also operate in a guillotine like manner and create a wedge shaped end to the tip of the cigar. This generally allows for more surface area for drawing on the cigar. Depending upon the preference of the user/smoker a clean slice through and across the cigar may be desired or the wedge shaped cut into the end of the cigar.

A cigar cutter which is capable of both selectively slicing directly across the longitudinal axis of the cigar and/or slicing a wedge (a pair of inclines meeting at the center axis of the cigar) would be desirable for a smoker/user. This device, preferably pocket sized, could be used to slice a new tip across a cigar or can form a wedge end into the tip of the cigar. A simple device, small, versatile as indicated would be desired by a cigar smoker. The present invention is intended to satisfy that need.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The present invention is directed to a cigar cutter for selectively creating a clean cut across the longitudinal axis of the cigar or a wedge-shaped cut, at the cap end of the cigar. Cutting one end, the cap end, will then enable a user/smoker to easily draw on the cigar for a smooth draw on the cigar. The device is compact, pocket sized and easy to use. The device is generally held in a closed position to ensure that no damage (cuts) are made accidentally to the user or other things, i.e., the slicing blades are secured within a housing until desirably opened for use. A simple pull button allows the opening of the device to be exposed. Once the opening is exposed, the cigar can be inserted into the opening. If a simple slice across the longitudinal axis is desired, the cigar is inserted into the opening's straight cutting or second side. If the new cut across the longitudinal axis is desirably in the shape of a wedge (a pair of meeting ramps at the center of the cigar) the cigar is inserted into the v-cutting side, the first side, one on the opposite side of the straight cut opening and blade. Once the cigar is placed partially into the opening, one side or the other, the reciprocating cutting blades are moved so as to have the cutting blade(s) slice across the longitudinal axis of the cigar, creating a clean surface for the smoker to draw upon. When the slicing is concluded, the user will close the cutting blades into the secure and “safe” position, i.e. the blades are locked from cutting the user or another accidentally.

The prior art has pocket sized cigar cutting devices with a reciprocating blade for a clean, across the longitudinal axis cut of a cigar. The device has a holding button mechanism to maintain the sharp edges of the blades within the housing. When the device is sought to be used for cutting a clean surface across the longitudinal axis of the cigar, the pull button on the face of the housing is pulled and that opens the central opening. The cigar is placed therethrough and the blade reciprocated slice off a small section, leaving a clean slice for the mouth side (or other) of the cigar. These reciprocating, small, pocket-sized cigar cutting slices are common. They allow the user/smoker to cut the tapered end of a cigar so that the same is provided with a nice circular cut and clean end for ease of drawing smoke through the cigar.

In addition, there are existing cigar cutters which provide a wedge shaped, newly cut end to a cigar. These are quite similar to the circular 90 degree across the longitudinal axis cutters just described, with reciprocating blades and a housing, a central opening, and a locking and unlocking mechanism. These, too, are pocket sized and meant to allow the smoker, user to create a new cutting across the longitudinal axis of the cigar, with the cut to be a pair of inclined ramps extending to a meeting diameter across the cigar.

Of course, knives, scissors, other cutting devices can be used to provide cuts of the tip across the longitudinal axis of the cigar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a pocket sized cigar cutter which is highly versatile in that it allows for a straight across the longitudinal axis of the cigar cut or, alternatively, as desired, a V-cut or wedge cut, extending across the cigar with the deepest intersection of two ramp-like sections coinciding with the axis of the cigar. The V-shaped cut is desired by those smokers who want to increase the surface area of the draw surface in comparison to that of a flat or straight cut. The straight and v-shaped cigar cutter is a single small, pocket size, safe housing having blades which reciprocate, when the device is opened, to cut across the longitudinal axis of the cigar and produce the desired V-shaped cut or the straight cut at the cap or mouth end of the cigar, all to ease the drawer of the same when the other end is lit. The end of the cigar which is lit with a flame is referred to as the foot while the end of the cigar which is to be cut by the present invention is referred to herein as the cap.

Generally, cigars are constructed with one end opened (the foot) and one end closed or sealed (the cap). The foot is the end of the cigar which is desirably lit with fire for commencing the smoking experience when the cap is placed in the mouth and drawn upon. It is the cap end which is desirably puffed for the inhalation of the smoke of the lit cigar.

Prior to lighting the cigar, the cap is cut or perforated by the user/smoker to allow puffing and drawing smoke from the cigar. The size or surface area of the exposed cigar, after a cut, will determine the amount of smoke and ease of drawing the smoke from the foot to the cap of the cigar. A larger cut allows more smoke to pass through the cap with less effort. A simple straight cut is fine but a wedge or V-shaped cut across the longitudinal axis of the cigar provides more drawing surface area and an easier drawer for the user/smoker. Yet, of course, there is a bit of personal preference in selecting or choosing between a straight cut and a wedge or V-shaped cut. Thus, it is considered highly desirable to provide a single device capable of providing alternatively a simple straight cut (an S-cut) and a wedge or V-cut. The type of cut is determined by the user/smoker and his/her personal preference

The cap may be cut with a cigar cutting apparatus that usually uses a stainless steel and edge sharpened blade to cut through the tobacco leaves at the cap end of the cigar. The apparatus has a central opening for passing the cap end through, with the blade retracted and then, when a pushing surface is advanced, the blade will cut through the outside surface of the cigar and then across the longitudinal axis and then the opposed surface of the cigar. Depending upon whether the cap is placed through a first side or the second side of the opening, the movement of the pushing surface which acts on the blade across the opening will cut the cap either straight across the cigar's axis or produce a wedge or V-shaped end of the cap.

Two common “shapes” of cuts for the end caps of cigars are the v-shaped cut and the straight edge cut. In the past, these cuts required two different devices to make the two distinct cuts. The present invention, however, referred to herein as a combination SV (straight and v-shaped) cut is a cigar cap cutting apparatus capable of producing either the v-shaped cut or a straight edge cut, merely depending upon the side of the housing or opening through which the cigar is inserted before moving the reciprocating blade across the longitudinal axis of the cigar.

The SV-cut device has two sides, each with a differently shaped cutting blade. One side has a v-shaped edge to the cutting blade that will cut a v-shaped portion from the cap of the cigar and leave a v-shaped opening on the cap end of the cigar. The other side of the housing of the cigar cutting apparatus has a straight guillotine-like sharpened edge to the blade that will cut a straight edged portion from the cap and leave a straight edged opening on the end of the cap of the cigar.

The blades are attached to the pushing surface or top handle of the housing, and move simultaneously, regardless of which side of the device is used for the two different (s or v) cuts to a cap of a cigar. The top handle or pushing surface is locked in a closed position while not in use and this closes the central opening of the housing. It is through the central opening that the cap to be cut of the cigar is passed to effect the desired cap cut (s or v). With the central opening closed until needed for the cutting of the cap, the sharp edge of the blade is protected from coming into contact with the fingers of others or other things. This is a clear safety feature. A release button on one side of the housing allows the pushing surface or top handle to be retracted, opening the central opening, and exposing the cutting edge of the blade. Then, the cigar can be placed through the central opening for a cutting (s or v), as desired. The release button, preferably on the v-cut side of the housing disengages the locking mechanism and allows reciprocating movement of the pushing surface or the movement of the blades along a trackway. Each side of the housing is provided with a central aperture into which the cap of the cigar is placed and then cut with a closing motion of the handle/pushing mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b are schematic side views of the back or cap section of a cigar and illustrating the intended removal of a v-shaped cut at the cap (FIG. 1a ) and a straight cut at the cap of the cigar (FIG. 1b );

FIG. 1c is a side schematic view of the entire cigar shown in FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b with the cigar shown extending from Cap to Foot.

FIG. 2a is a front perspective view of the cigar cutter of the present invention, showing the closed central opening or aperture with the v-shaped blade in the closed position and also showing the locking button;

FIG. 2b is a rear perspective view of the cigar cutter of the present invention, showing the closed central opening or aperture with the s- or straight blade in the closed position;

FIG. 3a is similar to that of FIG. 2a but shows the components which are secured together to form the front of the housing of the cigar cutter;

FIG. 3b is similar to that of FIG. 2b but shows the components which are secured together to form the rear of the housing of the cigar cutter;

FIG. 4a is a first side elevational view of the cigar cutter shown in the prior Figures and shows the locking button extending outwardly forwardly from the cigar cutter;

FIG. 4b is the opposite side elevational view of the cigar cutter shown in the prior Figures and shows the locking button extending rearwardly from the cigar cutter (the V-shaped cutter is now to the right of the Figure as the preferred embodiment uses the locking button secured and extending from the v-shaped blade cutter and the central opening;

FIG. 4c is a top view of the cigar cutter shown in FIGS. 4a and 4 b;

FIG. 4d is a bottom view of the cigar cutter shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4 c;

FIG. 5a is a front view of the cigar cutter, similar to FIGS. 2a and 3a , and shows the cigar cutter in its open position, ready to accept the cap or end of the cigar to be cut by the v-shaped cutter blade;

FIG. 5b is a rear view of the cigar cutter, similar to FIGS. 2b and 3b , and shows the cigar cutter in the open position, ready to accept the cap or end of the cigar to be cut by the straight cutter blade;

FIG. 6 is a top and cross section view of the cigar cutter, showing the locking button and v-shaped cutting blade to the left or at the front of the cigar cutter and the s-cut or straight cutting (straight or flat blade) to the right or at the back of the cigar cutter, the spring loaded trigger release button being shown in its extended or locked position;

FIG. 7 is another top and cross sectional view of the cigar cutter, showing the locking button and v shaped cutting blade to the left or at the front of the cigar cutter and the s-cut or straight cutting (straight or flat blade) to the right or at the back of the cigar cutter, the spring loaded release button being shown in in its pushed in or un-locking position;

FIG. 8 is a top, rear and cross sectional view of the cigar cutter showing the components of the invention, including the v-shaped cutting blade, the bottom half of the central aperture and the s-cut or straight cutting blade, also showing the bottom half of the central aperture toward the rear of the housing for the straight cutting blade;

FIG. 9 is a an exploded view of the cigar cutting mechanism of the present invention, showing the two ends of the device, with the central housing removed for ease of illustration of the movement of the pushing surface to effect a cutting motion and a slide of the cap of the cigar;

FIG. 10 is a side and exploded view of the device, again with the central housing covers or panels removed, showing the v-shaped cutting blade to the front and right (with the release and locking button) and the s-cut or straight blades towards the left or the rear of the device;

FIG. 11 is an exploded, side perspective view of the front of the cigar cutter, with the central housing removed to expose the v-shaped cutting blade and the straight cutting blades and the locking/release button to the left; and

FIG. 12 is side view of the cigar cutter, with the central housing pieces removed to expose the v-shaped cutting blade to the left and the straight or s-shaped cutting blades to the rear or the right of the device, and showing the release and locking button to the left of the Figure.

FIG. 13 is an exposed, partial, bottom view of the cutting blade and shows the manner by which the release button secures the blade in a closed position until the user pulls down on the release button which removes the engagement of the extension of the release button from the notch in the side of the blade, as shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention 10 is intended to be used in connection with cutting the tip or cap of a rolled cigar C. As seen in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c , a cigar is generally cylindrically shaped and extends from a foot F (where the cigar C will be lit with a flame) to the cap CP, where the smoker will place in his/her mouth for drawing upon to inhale. It is the cap CP that is sought to be provided with a clean and sharp cut across the longitudinal axis A of the cigar C to facilitate the draw of the smoke through the length and along the axis A of the cigar C. The present invention allows the user to either cut directly across the cigar's axis A in a straight cut as seen in FIG. 1b or to provide a wedge or v-shaped cut across the longitudinal axis A of the cigar, as seen in FIG. 1a . The straight cut will produce a remnant like a beret B and the v-shaped cut will produce a pie-shaped remnant P.

As best seen in the Figures, the cigar cutter 10 comprises a housing 12 with a top 14 and a bottom 16. For ease of use, the sides 18 and 20 are slightly indented. The front 22 is provided with a first aperture 24 for use in connection with the v-shaped cutting blades 32 and the back 26 is provided with a second aperture 28 for use with the straight shaped cutting blade 30.

The front 22 of the housing 12 is provided with a spring biased release button 40. The release button 40 is biased upwardly so that a user needs to overcome the strength of the bias of the spring to pull it down to allow the top 14 to raise above the rest of the housing, to expose and open the first aperture 24 (see FIG. 5a ) and the second aperture 28. (see FIG. 5b ).

The housing 12 is a composite of layers, preferably four, comprising a middle set of layers 42 and 44, and a front layer 34 and rear layer 36 as seen in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d . Front layer 34 overlays front middle layer 42 and rear layer 36 overlays rear middle layer 44. The two middle layers 42 and 44 overlay one another and the middle layers 42, 44 and the front and rear layers 34 and 36, respectively, form a sandwich composite for the housing 12. The middle layers 42 and 44 are slightly less in dimension of width and height than that of the front layer 34 and rear layer 36, as can be seen in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d . On the other hand the thickness of the middle layers 42 and 44 is slightly greater than that of the front and rear layers 34 and 36, as also can be seen in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c , and 4 d.

In the alternate and preferred embodiment, the housing can be two components giving the appearance of four layers but these are not necessarily four separate components (although the invention and device shown in the drawings is described as if there are four separate layers). In the preferred embodiment, however, there are just two separate components and each has an indented or recessed inner/middle surface with shorter width/height that makes it appear that the total housing is four layers.

The front layer 34 is formed from a central section 50, (See FIG. 3a ) with a top section 54 and a bottom section 56. The rear layer 36 is formed from a central section 52 (see FIG. 3b ) with a top section 58 and a bottom section 60. The front layer 34 is secured to the middle layer 42 then to the other middle layer 44, and then to the rear layer 36 by a set of screws and corresponding bolts 62. A composite sandwich of the layers is thus formed into the housing for the v-shaped cutting blades, the straight or s-cutting blades, and the rods with internal springs for the guided and reciprocal movement of the blades, pushed by the top 14 into the rest of the housing 12, when force is applied against the bias of the springs.

As seen in FIGS. 5a and 5b , when the release button 40 is pulled downwardly against the bias of the springs, the top 14 and the pushing surface 68 will be extended from the balance 70 of the housing. This allows the v-shaped cutting blade 32 to slide upwardly, to expose the central aperture 24. At the same time, the pushing surface 68 moves upwardly the second aperture for the straight blades 28 is also exposed as the straight blades are separated, too.

The v-shaped cutting blade mechanism 32 comprises a first v-shaped cutting blade 74, attached to the pushing surface 68. The base of the aperture for the v-shaped blade is provided with a v-shaped recess, similar to that at the top of the pushing surface, which act as guiding surfaces for the bottom of the v-shaped cutting blade. The v-shaped cutting blade 74 is dimensioned to cut a v-shape or wedge when the blade is slid down, across the longitudinal axis of the cigar, whose cap is inserted into the aperture. The v-shaped cutting blade acts like the edges of a single blade guillotine with the guillotine blade bent to form v-shape. When the v-shaped blade is pushed across the cap of the cigar, it will cut a wedge or v-shaped remnant from the cigar C, at the cap CP, when the cigar is inserted into the aperture 24 and the pushing surface 68 is pushed down, so that the blades slides through, i.e., across the longitudinal axis A of the cigar C. The bottom edges 82 of the v-shaped cutting blade will be sharp.

The straight or s-cutting blades 30 comprise a first straight-shaped cutting blade 94, attached to the pushing surface or top 68, 14 of the housing 12 and a second straight shaped blade 96, attached to the bottom 16 of the housing 12. The first straight cutting blade 94 and the second straight shaped cutting blade 98 are dimensioned to cut a straight cut when the first is slid over the second. They act like the edges of a pair of scissors and cut a beret shaped remnant B from the cigar C, at the cap CP, when the cigar is inserted into the aperture 28 and the pushing surface 68 is pushed down, so that the blades slide through the longitudinal axis A of the cigar C. The bottom edge 92 of the first straight cutting blade will be sharp and cooperate with the top edge 90 of the second straight cutting blade 76. The edges of the first straight cutting blade 94 and the other straight cutting blade 96 act as a guillotine to cut through the axis of the cigar. Preferably, the short stationary blade is built into the main housing 70/16 and a longer blade that moves with the pushing surface 14. The edges of each are sharpened and work to cut the cigar on both sides of the cigar until the blade edges meet in the middle of the cigar, like a slicing pair of scissors.

As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, a pair of springs 100 are encased in cylindrical shells 102 and extend between the top 14 and the bottom 16, passing through the center of the housing 12. The springs are connected and secured to the bottom 16 and are also connected to the top 14 such that when the release button 40 is depressed, the top 14 slowly but effortlessly to the user, raises up from the balance 70 of the housing 12 to vertically separate the top cutting blades (first v-shape cutting blade 74 from its mating counterpart, second v-shaped cutting blade 76; and first straight blade 78 from second straight cutting blade 80, exposing or opening the apertures 24 and 28. The springs bias the pushing surface 68 to the open position, extended away from the balance of the housing 70. It is against this spring bias that a user will need to push the pushing surface 68 towards the balance of the housing 70 to effect a cut, whether straight cut or a wedge/v-shaped cut of the cigar. The cutting will reengage the release button into its closed or holding position, holding the apertures closed and protecting appendages and things from coming into contact with the cutting edges of the blades.

The push button or release button 40 moves against the bias of a small spring into and out of the housing and when pushed, releases the blades so that they move upwardly to be ready for the cut, exposing or opening the apertures under the bias of the springs 100 and will regrip and hold the housing closed, as the springs are compressed when the pushing surface or top is closed to effect the cut.

It should also be appreciated, as shown in the drawings, that the two apertures are inwardly necked down or narrowed towards their center so that the cigar cap to be cut is limited, i.e., cannot pass through the aperture more than the necking allows. In the embodiment of the aperture for the v-shaped cutting blade, the sides of the aperture gently slope inwardly so that the cigar cap will be blocked from passing through the aperture as it is greater in diameter than the opening in the aperture. Rather, the cigar will rest against the sloped walls of the aperture. Similarly, the aperture of the device which is open for the straight cutting blades has a pair of opposed blocking walls, extending vertically and inwardly. These walls are a component of the central layers of the housing and serve to block the cigar's cap from passing too far through the aperture as the diameter of the cigar is more than the distance between the walls and, yet, the cigar's cap can pass between the two slicing edges of the straight cutting blades.

The present description and details of operation are believed easily understood by those of skill in the art. In this connection, various US patents relating to cigar cutters are incorporated herein by reference as the mechanism for operating the straight blades and the v-shaped blades is quite similar although the present invention is believed to be the first to combine, efficiently and safely, while effectively, the concept of a straight cut and a v-shaped cut.

It should be understood that it is within the scope of the invention for the cutter to not necessarily cut completely the cigar cap for the outer leaf or wrapper of the cigar is held together in some part by the cap. So, properly cutting the cap of a cigar means to cut a portion of the cap, but not the entire cap. If one were to cut the entire cap of the cigar, the outer leaf or wrapper would quickly unravel and disassemble the cigar. Both apertures of the device prevent the cigar from being inserted too far into the aperture, and, therefore, governing the amount of the cap that is cut off, preventing the entire cap from being cut off, and therefore preventing the destruction of the cigar.

In use, the smoker/cigar cutter will place the cap of the cigar into the specific aperture he/she wants to use to cut a clean slice across the longitudinal axis of the cigar. If the user/smoker wants a clean straight cut, the user will first pull down on the release button. This causes the pushing surface to raise up from the balance of the housing, as a consequence of the strength of the two springs within the cylinders. This opens the apertures. Then, the user/smoker will insert the cap into the second aperture and push down against the force of the springs, such that the slicing edge of the straight blades cuts through the cigar's longitudinal axis. This will cause the release button to reengage the bottom of the cutting blades and that will hold the housing closed, with springs compressed and aperture closed. Of course, the beret cap shape will be severed from the cigar, as desired.

Alternatively, if the user/smoker wants to cut a v-shaped or wedge cap into the cigar, the end is placed into the first aperture. Then, the pushing on the pushing surface will cause a cut of the cigar into a v-shape and that will then reengage the release button into the closed position, closing off the first and second apertures. 

1. A cigar cutter comprising a housing having first aperture for accepting the cap of a cigar and a v-shaped cutting blade slicing through a cigar cap held therein and a second aperture for accepting the cap of a cigar and a straight cutting blade slicing through a cigar cap held therein, wherein said first aperture is located on a first side of said cigar cutter and said second aperture is located on the opposed side of said cigar cutter.
 2. A cigar cutter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is further provided with a locking mechanism for holding said v-shaped cutting blade and said straight cutting blade in a locked position such that said first and said second apertures are closed.
 3. A cigar cutter as claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking mechanism is a spring biased closed device.
 4. A cigar cutter as claimed as claim 2 wherein said locking mechanism is located on the same side of said housing as said v-shaped cutting blade.
 5. A cigar cutter as claimed in claim 3 wherein said v-shaped cutting blade and said straight cutting blade are spring biased into the open position of said first and said second apertures and against the spring bias of said locking mechanism.
 6. A cigar cutter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first aperture and said second aperture are necked down to limit the amount of cigar which can be cut off by said cutting blades. 